Well, I say it time and time again but now that I have a new computer I may actually be more into blogging. Maybe I will make it a point to blog at least once a week. We shall see what happens. I know I enjoyed it when I did it on the daily.

I don’t know about you but I am excited for this baseball season. The American League West will likely be another fight to the very end. But I see no reason why my A’s can’t once again come out on top.

My personal baseball goal is to get my boyfriend to realize the greatness that is the Oakland A’s and realize that Baseball is still pure just with a few bad seeds. My Oakland A’s are a perfect example of what is so great about baseball. I’ve persuaded many and I don’t see why I can’t do it again.

The Oakland A’s, a team of misfits, no bodies, has-beens, never was, the list goes on and on. ESPN, MLB Network and the like all said the A’s had no chance of doing anything spectacular this year. With rookies galore it was reasonable to be a non believer. I, along with many A’s fans have always had faith in our team. But it was getting difficult to remain so optimistic when you are force fed nothing but negativity i.e. facts.

With that being said I became a first time season ticket holder. Now I’ve always gone to 20-30 games per season I just never had the money to pay all at once for season tickets. This season I had the money and I also wanted to make sure I had to be there for my team during this 100+ loss season. A true fan isn’t just there through the good times. A fan is there for the good, the bad and everything in between. Even I, the biggest optimist of them all was mentally prepared for those 100 losses. Logically I knew it was going to be very difficult to do any better than third if not last in the toughest division in the American League. Who are these guys? Cespedes? He’s some Cuban defector who has a workout video. That surely doesn’t mean he can play baseball. Reddick? We gave up Bailey for some guy who hardly gets the chance to play, are we out of our minds? The simple answer to that is yes and we always have been. It’s done this franchise good so far.

So what did we do this season?

We didn’t quite make it to 100 losses but we did almost reach 100 wins. This team of misfits, rookies and whatever other names you like to call them did what many thought was impossible. The Oakland A’s ended the regular season 94-68 and won the last 6 home games sweeping the Seattle Mariners and then the Texas Rangers to become the 2012 AL West Division Champions. All the Rangers had to do was win one game. But as the A’s have said all season just take it one game at a time and that’s what they did. They shocked the baseball world. Granted they didn’t get passed the Detroit Tigers to get to the ALCS but it doesn’t really matter.

I went to many games this season and while game four of the ALDS was incredible with yet another walk off win and quite possibly one of the if not the greatest games I’ve been to, game five while heartbreaking was also beautiful. I had told my friend before the ninth inning began that no matter what happens I’m going to stay behind and cheer, “Lets Go Oakland!” He chuckled, but it turns out the 37000+ fans had the exact same thought. While the Tigers were celebrating it was as though they weren’t even there. The A’s fans while sad by the turn of events were quickly reminded at the amazing season the A’s gave us and it was important that they know how much they mean to us and how much we appreciate them. The crowd began to cheer, “Lets Go Oakland” and it was evident it meant something to the team, they also had planned to stay around and celebrate the fans. It was a mutual love and respect that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.

This group of guys wasn’t just a team; they were friends, family, and brothers. And it wasn’t just the players it was Bob Melvin and even Billy Beane.

We all cringed when we saw Brandon McCarthy get hit in the head by the ball leading to brain surgery the same night. We later found out that Bob Melvin and Billy Beane stayed with McCarthy’s wife Amanda while he was in surgery. She later tweeted about what happened and she had told them they didn’t need to be away from their families for this and they quickly responded that they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else and that they were with family. Another incident later in the season was the tragic death of Pat & Stephanee Neshek’s baby boy less than 24 hours after his birth. Even though they were grieving and had just experienced the single worst thing anyone could ever experience they knew the place they needed to be was with the team. The A’s had a patch put on their jersey with the initials of Baby Neshek that read GJN for Gehrig John Neshek. Neshek also pitched just days after losing his son, not only pitched but with Gehrig watching from the best seat in the house he saw his daddy pitch great! Then we all got tears in our eyes seeing Neshek look up to the heavens and touch the patch on his arm. Then Jonny Gomes hugged him in the dugout.

The Neshek story does hit home. My brother Bryan David Hoffert passed away from a short illness when he was 5 years old. While I never had the pleasure of knowing my brother I know he’s always with me. I know my parents still have their bad days even though his passing was more than 32 years ago. This is what makes me feel so deeply for the Neshek family. It’s going to get easier to live each day but this is something that will be with them every day and especially on Gehrig’s birthday and holidays. I know I’ll always keep my brothers memory alive and with the large platform Neshek has I hope he knows his son will always be remembered as well.

Even though this season the A’s experienced tragedy most of the time this team just had fun. I went to over 30 games this season seeing them lose just 4 times. The beginning of the season they were average at best and they had to deal with the unlucky fate of Coco Crisp. Flu, ear infections, some weird pink eye issue that as soon as one eye was getting better the other got worse and the only thing he could contribute were his legs on a couple of occasions. Cespedes had his own bouts with injury but with his desire to win a Championship he was determined to play. The A’s battled through diversity, fought through tragedy and won by having fun and being the definition of a team.

At times they were ridiculed for over celebrating, they were accused of acting like they were in high school and their respect for the game was even questioned. This team has nothing but respect for the game of baseball. Every time you speak with any of them you know they have nothing but love for this game.

There is so much more to say about this team. From Gomes always defending this team from the wild accusations to guys like Brandon Inge stating he would take a bullet for Bob Melvin. These things just never happen in sports. Whether it’s baseball, football, basketball or any other sport you can think of there is always one guy who feels he’s better than everyone else. Not with this team.

This team of misfits wanted to win for each other more than they wanted to win for themselves. I think I can also speak for my fellow A’s fans when I say I wanted this team to go all the way because this team is just that special. I wanted it more for them than I wanted it for myself. I didn’t need to gloat to Giants fans that the A’s are so much better because they won a World Series; I just wanted to see the joy on the A’s faces that I saw after every walk off, every big win of the season and in the post season. This team has meant a lot to A’s fans and I hope we see them all next year.

Thank You A’s for a more than magical season that I and all A’s fans will remember for a life time.

Are the A’s moving or not? This discussion didn’t just begin a few years ago this has been going on a good ten plus years. We were supposed to have a new stadium by 2011; if you didn’t notice we’re half way through 2012 and we don’t even know if we are getting a new ball park at this point.

The fact remains and always will be that the Giants would not be where they are today if it weren’t for the A’s organization. It’s not me being a baby and whining or complaining, it’s the facts. The A’s didn’t want to lose competition, we didn’t want the Giants to go anywhere so we said here ya go here’s some territory you can use. Who knew it would come back to bite us. The Giants organization is a pathetic, scummy, shady organization and if they did “let” us have a ball park in San Jose I’m sure they would spin the situation and lead people to believe they were being generous and they are such a classy organization and we would then owe them big.

[Picture Taken by: Lisa Hoffert]

I go to 20-30 games per season on average. I hate the fact that people are not filling that stadium. Is it because it’s in the ghetto? Is it ownership? What is it???? I’ve been to plenty of games by myself and never had any issues. It can’t very well be that everyone is disgruntled at Lew Wolff and the other suits in the front office because the A’s have never been known to draw attendance. Maybe the late 80s were an exception. Even in the 70s when they won back to back to back World Championships they weren’t drawing more than 12,000. Are people in the bay area so dense they don’t realize what they have in their own back yard? This team has won 9 World Championships, 15 Pennants, look at the days of Connie Mack and Charles O’ Finley. This organization has had and will have great times and we are one of the top organizations in baseball. How do you not see that? Don’t allow the Giants of all teams to take that history from you.

Tell me fellow A’s fans, what is it keeping you form the ball park? I’m not angry at Lew Wolff, I’m not angry at Billy Beane and I’m certaintly not angry at our team that put’s their heart on that field every single game. A’s fans, do you love this team? Do you enjoy going to baseball games? Then what is stopping you? A game is relatively cheap at O.co and if you must you can park at the BART station for free, or take BART for a couple bucks. Nothing should be stopping you, there is nothing that should stop you from supporting your team. In the end the only thing you do is hurt team moral. If we want this team to be a success we need to get out there and support them. Every time I say this I get bitter comments from A’s fans but the reality is, nothing is stopping you but yourself and your petty excuses.

So far the big question is Where did this A’s team come from? As if the A’s are some organization that doesn’t know what it’s like to be successful. Any A’s fan will tell you that is far from the case. Sure it’s been since 2006 when the A’s last saw the post season but the A’s are very familiar with winning.

I know it’s surprising to see a team like the A’s doing so well at this time. Granted if the season were to end today they wouldn’t have won the division, they wouldn’t even have won the second Wild Card spot. But the season isn’t ending today and with a mostly healthy team I have full faith that this team can be in the post season. I’ll admit, on paper they look like garbage but reporters, writers, commentators and ESPN fail to recognize the intangibles. Those things that can’t be measured. The true A’s fan knows how much heart this team has and the desire they have to win. Guys like Josh Reddick who exude confidence that some may say makes him a bit cocky is a perfect example of who an Athletic is. They aren’t a team that just rolls over and dies after a nine game losing streak. They battle back, which is proven by eight walk off wins. They may be down late in a game but unlike recent seasons we still have hope.

[Photo Provided By: AthleticsNation.com]

Why is this team so different? Still a bunch of players no one knows. Still a lack luster team batting average. What’s different? I’d say the biggest component in the A’s success is acquiring Bob Melvin. I’m a believer in a coach only being as good as the players that are on the field, however Bob Melvin adds something that can’t be explained. The team is confident with him, they respect him, they not only want to win for themselves but for him as well. When Bo Mel first came on board we heard he is a players manager and he really is. He makes decisions that actually workout, which we rarely saw in Geren. I defended Geren mostly because I knew on paper the A’s just weren’t that great. On paper the A’s are even worse this season, yet they are more successful. So I say to all the A’s fans throw that paper in the trash because it means nothing.

[Photo Provided By: AthleticsNation.com]

We have potential to be a great team. Who cares if we are in Oakland, Fremont or San Jose. Let the front office worry about the logistics and lets just enjoy the team that is putting their heart on that field every game. Who cares about the bandwagon fans across the bay who talk trash. We all know they wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for the A’s organization. The A’s deserve a sell out every game, but I’m fine with 10,000-12,000 true, diehard, loyal fans, than 40,000 bandwagon, corporate shmoozing, no nothing “fans” like we know are at the Giants games. (Yes, I know there are a handful of real fans but it truly is a handful)

It may not be this season, it may not be next season but our time is coming. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to enjoy this ride.

I have wanted to keep up on this blog I truly have BUT life gets busy sometimes and you can’t even do the things you really enjoy. And what’s better than the A’s?

How can I not write this season when we have Manny, possibly a new ball park and some guy from Cuba who I hope can hit against MLB pitching. This is going to be quite the season and I can’t wait!!! Sure the A’s might lose 100 games, but they could win 100 too right? Anything is possible.

So because I want to be a part of a great A’s season from the beginning I’ve gotta blog. Sure I might not be able too but once a week but I can guarantee there’s going to be a lot to say this season.

And don’t forget to see Moneyball not win the Oscar for Best Picture, but ain’t it great to be nominated?! Who woulda thunk it a movie about Billy Beane and the Amazin’ A’s would be a contender. (I was at game 18 in real life and game 20 in the movie)

GO A’S! HERE’S TO A GREAT SEASON REGARDLESS WHAT THE WIN LOSS RECORD IS, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST.

So it’s about time I actually did start writing on my blog again. So much has been going on with the A’s. I do a lot of chatting on twitter and there are a lot of great baseball fans on there. So I will say I will start writing more … at least once a week. I have had so much going on lately and it’s so hard to just turn on the computer sometimes. I don’t spend to much time on here, but my blog has received decent attention. I don’t claim to be the smartest when it comes to baseball but what I do know is that I am a real fan. I love baseball. I love my Oakland A’s. My goal is to single handedly show the greatness that is the Oakland A’s and show that fans do have the ability to do something. We spend so much time blaming ownership or making up statistics to make it seem as though it’s someone elses fault, but the simple fact is the A’s just don’t draw a crowd, no matter how great they have been in the past. So here is the beginning of what is going to be something great. <–Someday someone is going to quote that. :o)